In response to media enquiries on the arrest operation in relation to fraud cases under the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP), the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) responds as follows:
 
     The ITC and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, which serves as the Secretariat of the TVP (the Secretariat), received reports regarding TVP applications last year. After reviewing and analysing the relevant information, the ITC considered the cases prima facie suspicious, and therefore proactively relayed the relevant information to the Police for follow up immediately. After a few months of investigation, the Police initiated the arrest operation.
      
     To ensure the proper use of public money, the ITC and the Secretariat have all along established a robust vetting mechanism to evaluate, monitor and identify whether the applications received involve irregularities. The ITC and the Secretariat will continue to work closely with the Police.
      
     In view of the ongoing legal proceedings, it is not appropriate for the ITC to comment further.
 
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Alipay Financial Services (HK) Limited relating to phishing messages and fraudulent websites. The relevant stored value facility (SVF) licensee has reported the case to the HKMA.

     The fraudulent websites reported by the SVF licensee known at the time are as follows:
https[:]//hksunmobile[.]com/ac
https[:]//samtsone[.]top

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that anyone who has provided his or her personal information or account credentials, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the messages and the websites concerned, should contact the relevant SVF licensee, and report to the Police or contact the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre of the Police at 18222.

The following press release is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     On the announcement of the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Professor Rocky Tuan, today (January 9), the Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Tim Lui, expressed respect for Professor Tuan's personal decision and commended the CUHK for its outstanding academic achievements during his tenure.
 
     Mr Lui said, "In the past few years, the CUHK has made great efforts to enhance its academic standards, and promote teaching innovation and research impact. The CUHK launched new interdisciplinary and industry-university collaborative programmes, and organised prominent international higher education conferences in Hong Kong, which furthered its reputation and influence in the global higher education sector. The CUHK also proactively worked with the UGC to support the Government's strategic directions for the triennium, seizing the opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to enrich students' learning experience on the Mainland and their whole-person development. On behalf of the UGC, I would like to commend the CUHK for its outstanding academic achievements during Professor Tuan's tenure. I trust that the university community will work together for the future development of the CUHK, and continue to contribute to Hong Kong's higher education sector."

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 9) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters harvested in area 14-161 Grandcamp-Maisy West and Géfosse-Fontenay in France. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received notifications from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that ready-to-eat raw oysters harvested in area 14-161 Grandcamp-Maisy West and Géfosse-Fontenay in France were detected with norovirus and the area concerned was closed. A preliminary investigation by the CFS found that a local importer, M&C Asia Limited, had imported the affected raw oysters. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters harvested in the area concerned, and instructed the importer to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected oysters."

     The spokesman said that preliminary investigation by the CFS found that 22 kilograms of the affected oysters had been imported by the importer concerned. All were destroyed and have not entered the market. The trade should also stop selling other products from the affected area if they possess them.

     The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

     The CFS will inform the French authorities and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.

     In response to media enquiries regarding the resignation of Professor Rocky Tuan as the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), a spokesman for the Education Bureau today (January 9) gave the following reply:
      
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has taken note of Professor Rocky Tuan's resignation to the Council of the CUHK as the Vice-Chancellor and President of the CUHK with effect from January 2025. Since Professor Tuan assumed office as the Vice-Chancellor and President of the CUHK in 2018, the University has continuously driven innovation in scientific research and provided channels for enterprises to recruit quality talent. Furthermore, the CUHK has received a number of international and national awards, and achieved remarkable results in world university rankings.
      
     With the commencement of the amended Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance in November 2023, the Council of the CUHK is working to improve its structure. The improvement of the CUHK’s governance standard and effectiveness marks an important step in Hong Kong’s higher education development. The Government has full confidence that the Council of the CUHK will make appropriate arrangements for the recruitment of the Vice-Chancellor and President based on its long-term interests and development needs, thereby enabling the CUHK to continue to provide quality education and nurture outstanding talent for Hong Kong and the country.